In addition to long-term health effects

Feb 15, 2010 07:37 GMT  ·  By
This is a diagram depicting the rise of overweight among ages 6-19 in the US
   This is a diagram depicting the rise of overweight among ages 6-19 in the US

With the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, admitting publicly that her children have a body-mass index (BMI) higher than normal, many experts and even parents have begun to take a look at their own children's waistlines. The obesity epidemic that struck the general population is currently also taking its toll on the little ones, and there seem to be very few people that acknowledge this fact. In addition to opening the way for heart conditions and diabetes in the long run, teen obesity also causes a host of psychological effects on the small ones, researchers say.

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey determined that the number of obese children aged six to 19 had tripled over the past 20 years. In addition, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that about 16 percent of all children aged two to 19 have a BMI that puts them in the obese range. What's even more concerning is that roughly 37 percent of youngsters are overweight, which means that they could grow to be obese without “effort,” if the trend is not corrected while still in its infancy. The potential costs that so many sick people will incur on the healthcare system in the future are mind-boggling.

In addition to an increased risk of developing diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure, and sleeping problems, being obese also subjects the children to ridicule from their peers, as well as to large amounts of emotional distress. “Overweight kids are more likely to have depression and low self-esteem, to be teased or bullied, and to bully other children. These can be serious problems for these children,” Medical College of Georgia Associate Professor of Pediatrics Catherine Davis says. “Overweight and obesity are terribly stigmatizing conditions, regardless of age,” University of Missouri in Columbia expert Sara Gable explains, quoted by LiveScience.

“Living as a member of a stigmatized group is stressful and can produce feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness,” she adds. Psychologists also warned that treating these issues lightly, as if they were not there, could have even worse consequences for the children. Parents need to learn how to take into account what their youngsters think, while also promoting an agenda that instills a healthier lifestyle, which does not revolve around highly processed foods.

“A lot of who we are is based on how others interact with us. With kids who are overweight they internalize others' feedback, 'You're fat, you're no good, no one wants to go out with you.' That contributes to anxiety and depression,” University of South Florida Departments of Pediatrics and Psychiatry expert Eric Storch concludes.